All Saints

About the Movie

A great story with a biblical message, All Saints is an encouragement and challenge to believe boldly, love unconditionally and give selflessly. The film is based on the inspiring true story of salesman–turned–pastor Michael Spurlock (John Corbett), the tiny church he was ordered to shut down, and a group of refugees from Southeast Asia. Together, they risked everything to plant seeds for a future that might just save them all. Also starring Cara Buono and Barry Corbin. Look for it in theaters this fall!

Our Thoughts

We recently had the privilege to preview the upcoming movie All Saints via an online connection.   One evening we sat down with our children in order to watch the movie.   We enjoy watching movies based on true story and if you are like us I think you will like All Saints.

The story is about a man who has left the world of sales to become a pastor.   He and his family move in a tiny church – All Saints – but the goal of his superiors is to sell the land before moving him to another church.   However, through certain encounters, he decides to turn the land of the church into a farm in order to save it.   However, circumstances will put road blocks on his way and challenges will make things hard for him to do so.   I will not go into details on what happens in the movie but I thought it was interesting to see how the church came together in order to create this farm.

Though John Corbett (My Big Fat Greek Wedding) is amazing in his role of Rev. Michael Spurlock, I think my favorite character was  Forrest played by Barry Corbin.  Not only his comments brought laughter but his whole personality is present throughout the movie.  

One thing we had found while watching this movie is that there are times when the flow of the movie slows down quite a bit and it seems as though it drags.  But then something happen and the flow goes back to normal.   I find that a lot of faith based movie are like this and it is a bit disappointing.   It would be great if all faith based movies would have a consistency on the story line and that down part could be sped up a bit.

Nevertheless this is a great family movie to watch.   It presents how a church can be welcoming to refugees and how you can find solutions to ordeals where you least expect them to be.  

What does the Bible says about refugees?   http://origin-flash.sonypictures.com/ist/allsaints_resources/AllSaints_Infographic1_RefugessInBible.pdf

Read the article of the real Rev. Michael Spurlock on how welcoming refugees saved his dying church.

Are you curious about All Saints?  You can watch the trailer here.

Numerous resources are available for All Saints on the website including a discussion guide.

All Saints Opening Theatres (August 25th & advance showings August 24th).   It would make a great date night movie for adults, a great time at the movie for families, as well as a great church event if you want to organize a movie night for your congregation.  Below you will find where in Canada the movie will be showed.  This list was updated on August 15th.   I have highlighted in red where the movie will be shown in my area.

Ontario
Galaxy 12 Barrie
Silvercity 12 Burlington
Silvercity Stony Creek Hamilton
Galaxy 10 Waterloo
Cineplex Odeon Westmount 11 London + VIP
Silvercity Gloucester + IMAX
Cineplex Cinemas Vaughan IMAX + AVX
Silvercity 16 Brampton
Queensway 20 AVX + VIP Etobicoke
Cineplex Odeon Winston Churchill Cinemas Oakville
Landmark 10 Pen Centre St. Catharines
Landmark 24 Whitby
Devonshire Mall 12 Windsor
Eglinton Towne Centre Scarborough

Manitoba
Silvercity 14 Polo Park + IMAX Winnipeg

Saskatchewan
Scotiabank Saskatoon

Alberta
Scotiabank Theatre Chinook 16 + IMAX Calgary
Landmark 16 Country Hills Calgary
South Edmonton Commons 16
North Edmonton 14 Cinemas
Galaxy 11 Red Deer

British Columbia
Cineplex Cinemas Abbotsford & VIP
Cineplex Cinemas Langley + IMAX
Silvercity Coquitlam

Nova Scotia
Scotiabank Theatre Halifax + IMAX

PEI
Cineplex Cinemas Charlottetown

Disclaimer: The link to the movie has been provided courtesy of Sony Canada and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

The Case for Christ

About the Movie

A hard-driving journalist, Lee Strobel (Mike Vogel) was exactly where he expected to be at work: on top. His award-winning investigative reporting recently earned him a promotion to legal editor at the Chicago Tribune. But things weren’t going nearly as well at home where his wife Leslie’s (Erika Christensen) newfound faith in Christ went against everything Lee believed—or didn’t believe—as an avowed atheist.

Utilizing his journalistic and legal training, Lee begins a quest to debunk the claims of Christianity in order to save his crumbling marriage. Chasing down the biggest story of his career, Lee comes face-to-face with unexpected results that could change everything he knows to be true.

Our Thoughts

Last night we had the privilege to watch The Case for Christ as a family.   My husband and I were no stranger to the story because we had read the book when it first came out many years ago.   For those of you who do not know the story behind the movie let me tell you that it is an incredible investigating journey as an attempt to discredit Jesus Christ on many aspects of his life, death and resurrection.  This investigation is triggered by the fact that his wife becomes a Christian at some point in time. Through the process, the reporter discover that the claims of Christianity are solid and his faith moves from atheist to believer.  He himself realizes that Jesus Christ is true and real.

The movie highlights the main ideas find in the book (I still think the book contains many more interesting results of his investigation and is worth reading!).   The movie portrays the 1980s very well with décor as well as the clothes, hairdos and so many more details that were well thought of in the movie.  As for the storyline itself, I find that it was a very good representation of what we have read in the book.   

We also found that the movie was really well made in a sense that there was no dragging scenes or pauses throughout the story.  Sometimes we find that faith based movies possess some scenes that just take a long time to be finished.  This is not happening in The Case for Christ.   There was a good flow in the storyline and sometimes you would see flashback from the past when the main character pondered on his relationship with his wife before she became a Christian.

Our whole family, 2 adults and 4 kids ages 9, 11, 13 and 16, enjoyed the movie.   As parents we find that it is essential to expose our kids to true-life stories and The Case for Christ is a great example of how a person who “investigate” can become a Christian.     The movie is absolutely family friendly I find.  Be aware that there will be scene where the main character, Lee Strobel, will go to bars to drink as well as come back home drunk.  Nevertheless, I find this movie to be a great movie to watch as a family and trigger discussion for days or weeks to come.   My plan now is to schedule the reading of the youth edition of the books that Lee Strobel wrote – Case for Christ, Case for Faith and Case for a Creator – as part of their homeschool assignments this year.   They are all in age to be able to understand the concepts presented in the books. 

I would highly recommend The Case for Christ for family movie night to anyone.   It can also be a tool for a discussion with your teens and/or non-believer friends.   I know that a movie guide is available for purchase in order to trigger the discussion after watching the movie.  

You can Watch the trailer here.  

The Case for Christ came out on DVD, Blu-ray, and for digital download on August 15th, and is available at amazon.ca and amazon.com.

DVD

 

Blu-Ray

 

Official Movie Guide

Disclaimer: The link to the movie has been provided courtesy of Mongrel Media and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

90 Minutes in Heaven

A new faith movie is out in theater these days.   90 Minutes in Heavens has hit the theaters in the US and Canada last week and you can quickly see it at a theater near you.

What the movie is all about.

Pastor Don Piper died January 18, 1989 when a semi-tractor truck crushed his car. Declared dead by the first rescue workers to arrive on the scene, Don's body lay under a tarp for the next 90 minutes. Don's soul, meanwhile, was experiencing love, joy, and life like he'd never known before. Don was in Heaven. When another pastor's prayers helped bring Don back to life, he became a living miracle! Yet this is one miracle Don wished never happened. Heaven's bliss was replaced by excruciating pain and emotional turmoil. With the support and prayers of his beloved Eva, their three kids, and friends near and far, Don clings to his faith in God and fights to regain a semblance of his previous life. The Piper family's incredible true story of perseverance and overcoming the challenges of life--and death--will bring hope and encouragement to all who see it.

 

Who plays in it?

Hayden Christensen plays Don Piper in the movie.   This actor has launched his acting career at the age of 11 with minor films and television roles.   Many of us will remember him as the famous Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars Episode II – Attack of the Clones and in Star Wars Episode III – Revenge of the Sith.  

Kate Bosworth plays Eva Piper.  She had her first movie role at 14 years of age when she played in The Horse Whisperer.  This role was perfect for the equestrian in her.   She also played in Remember the Titans and was Lois Lane in Superman Returns. 

Dwight Yoakam plays Cecil Beaumont, Esq.  This actor originally established himself in the music industry.   Acting is a second love for him.  

Michael W. Smith plays Cliff McArdle as well as being the score composer.   Michael is an acclaimed singer, songwriter, and musician.

Hear what Michael W. Smith says about the movie.

Michael W. Smith's New Movie Brings Hope!

Fred Dalton Thompson plays Jay B. Perkins.   This American politician, actor, attorney, lobbyist, columnist, and radio show is well knows for his roles in Sinister and Die Hard 2.  He also appeared in the NBC television series Law & Order.

Jason Kennedy plays David Gentiles.  He is a news correspondent at E! handling a variety of stories and events for E! News.

Elizabeth Hunter is playing Nicole Piper.   This talented middle-schooler has made her film debut in a Clint Eastwood musical titled Jersey Boys.   She since appeared in television in Finding Carter, Powers, Nashville and Hart of Dixie.

Bobby Batson plays Joe Piper.   90 Minutes in Heaven is the theatrical film debut for this actor.  

Watch the trailer of 90 Minutes in Heaven.

Unfortunately, the movie is not playing in all theaters in Canada.  However, you can access a list of the theaters that is showing it by clicking to the movie’s website – 90 Minutes in Heaven.   In Ottawa, the movie is currently showing at the Cineplex Odeon in South Keys as well as at the Landmark Cinemas in Kanata.

According to Plugged In the movie would be perfect for Adults and Teens.   The movie is geared for PG-13 which means that it isn’t for children.      In the violence part of the movie,  the crash is pretty visual and the aftermath can be dramatic.   You will see blood, a banged face as well as difficult x-ray images.  The main actor is also fitted with a metal exoskeleton to assist his leg and arm so the pain will be felt as you watch the movie.